Agriculture is one of the broadest Sectors of the Economy, Just like the Information Technology field as it is an Intelligent Age.
Bee farming is one of those sectors of Agriculture that is an undervalued trade in Nigeria. Coincedentally, Honey can form an essential components of diet without any side-effects.
The Economic prospectus of the Apiculture industry is high as Global yearly production of raw honey which is averagely 1.4 Million Tonnes valued at the Global Market at $5,000 per metric Ton. This is equivalent to $7 Billion or 1.120 Billion Naira in total.
Total Global value of Apiculture industry stands at $230 Billion( About 40 Trillion Naira)...David Musa; Committee member & Technical Expert, Inter-Ministerial committee on Honey production, Bee Health and Pollination Services Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
A jar of Unadultrated Honey in the Giant West Africa Country ranges from 3500 Naira($9.70) to 6000 Naira($16.74) per liter. One very key set backs to Local Apiculture Farmers is their lack of exposure to the Advancement in the Trade.
With a Tropical Climate, Nigeria stands at an advantage to trive in Animals production and food producing insect rearing.
Annual production of 0.2 to 0.4 Million Tonnes of raw honey could be achieved if properly funded and managed by either Government or Private investors.
There had been a long time reliance on Crude oil to sustain the Economy of the Nation and other sectors had been neglected. The Governement is overly relied upon and clearly this political systems have other bites to chew and they slightly or never pay attention to more revenue generating ventures to foster the economy; which relatively creates more job opportunities for the masses.
If only this busy Governments could optimise the Honey-Production systems and stimulate huge Capital into the Apiculture Farming; not just Oil and Gas, Bee farmers would be adequately equipped and they have a chance to better Techniques which in turn brings improvement to Agriculture in Nigeria's Honey Bee production.
Reviving Agriculture generally needs a devotion, not just Cocoa, Palm Oil and Rubber but all aspect of Agriculture to salvage Nigeria's dwindling economy from Collapsing Totally.
When the large Crude oil Deposit runs dry, what do we fall back on as a country? Absolutely Nothing!
While so many Africans are pessimistic this plans might not work, some are still keeping the Faith. As an old wise saying goes:
There is no harm in trying, not trying at all makes an individual a miserable failure!
